Tubular combined cartridge container and magazine unit



April 21., 1959 JI L.

HVILL 2,882,635

TUBULAR COMBINED CARTRIDGE CONTAINER AND MAGAZINE UNIT Filed Dec. 19,1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

A Trap/45% J. L. HILL April 21, 1959 TUBULAR COMBINED CARTRIDGECONTAINER AND MAGAZINE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. do/m L. H/// BY Z l ATTORNEK United States Patent OfiFice2,882,635 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 TUBULAR COMBINED CARTRIDGE CONTAINERAND MAGAZINE UNIT John L. Hill, Houston, Tex.

Application December 19, 1956, Serial No. 629,354

8 Claims. (CI. 4217) This invention relates to improvements inautomatic, semi-automatic and manually operable guns and refers moreparticularly to improved magazine and ejecting means for such guns.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved combinedcartridge container and magazine for guns of the character described.One of the features of my invention resides in the provision of acartridge container, which, when installed on and connected with thegun, serves also as the magazine for the gun. Another feature is thatthe cartridge container contains the cartridges under pressure of abiased feeding means, the container being provided with an end closurewhich, when the container is installed on the gun, is displaced bycooperating parts on the gun to establish communication between thecontainer and the breech mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gun and cartridgecontainer assembly in which the gun is provided with means operable onmovement of the container into association with the gun to open the feedend of the container to establish communication between the containerand the breech mechanism of the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun and magazineassembly of the character described which is especially suitable for usein combination with gun actions of the type disclosed in my PatentNumber 2,624,241, issued January 6, 1953.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a gun and magazineassembly in which the gun is readily convertible to a single cartridgeloading even while the magazine is still in place on the gun.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gun of theautomatic, semi-automatic and manually operable type in which unfiredcartridges or spent casings are ejected from the gun body through apassageway so located as to prevent such cartridges from striking thearms, face or neck of the operator, and to make continuous firing of thegun possible even though it may be wrapped in a blanket, held under araincoat or other outer coat, or operated in any other place ofconcealment which in ordinary guns might result in jamming of the firingmechanism.

A feature of my invention in this respect resides in the provision of agun equipped with a pistol type hand grip, the hand grip being providedtherein with a cartridge passageway adapted to receive the cartridges orcasings from the ejector mechanism. In the preferred form of myinvention the ejected cartridges or casings travel lengthwise throughthe hand grip and are discharged through a suitable outlet at the buttend thereof. When the gun is held in the normal firing position theejected cartridges or casings fall directly toward the ground and areprevented from flying laterally or upwardly. The point of discharge isbelow the hands and arms of the operator, thus minimizing, if notentirely eliminating, the danger of injury to the operator or tobystanders.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved manualejector, cocking and firing means for guns provided with an ejectorpassageway of the character described above.

Other and further objects of the invention together with the features ofnovelty appurtenant thereto will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification andare to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the various views:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a gun embodying the features of myinvention, parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the rear portion of the gun andshowing a combined cartridge container and magazine according to theinvention installed thereon, parts of the latter being broken away forpurposes of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a view taken generally along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the combined cartridgecontainer and magazine prior,to removal of the end closure therefor, theview being taken along the line 77 of Fig. 8 in the direction of thearrows; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the combined cartridgecontainer and magazine, showing schematically the fashion in which theend closure is removed as the container is moved into installed positionon the gun, and also showing the rear portion of the gun body.

Referring now to the drawings, the gun of the present invention includesa barrel 10, an elongate receiver or gun body 11 extending rearwardly ofthe barrel and a pistol type hand grip 12, the latter being secured toand depending from the underside of the receiver. The barrel 10 isconnected with the receiver in any convenient fashion; the rearward end10a of the barrel extends into a chamber block 13 in the receiver (seeFig. 6) and is bored to provide a chamber 1% for cartridges.

The rearward portion of the receiver is of essentially hollow,rectangular construction, having a top wall 14, bottom wall 15, andspaced parallel side walls 16. The open rearward end of the receiver isclosed by a closure plate 17. Preferably this plate is connected withthe receiver by means of outwardly turned flanges 14a and 15a on the topand bottom walls of the receiver which engage within correspondingguideways formed in the closure plate so that the plate can be removedby sliding it laterally from the receiver. On the upper margin of theplate is an extension 1712' having a discontinuous lip 17b spaced abovetop wall 14, the purpose of which will be later described. Spacedtriangular retainer plates 17c complete the construction of the endclosure 17.

Contained within receiver 11 is a bolt block 18 of generally rectangularcross section. This block is dimensioned to slidably fit within thehollow interior of the receiver so that it is longitudinallyreciprocable within the receiver. The bolt block is continuously urgedtoward the barrel end of the receiver by a resilient firing and recoilmechanism best shown in Fig. 6. The recoil mechanism includes acylindrical bore 19 extending centrally into the block from the rear endof the block and open at the rearward end. A sleeve 20 telescopicallyfits within the bore 19, the rear :end of the sleeve abutting the insideof the closure plate 17. A pin 20a is secured to the rear end wall ofthe sleeve, this pin being received in a corresponding aperture in theend plate which serves to center the sleeve in the receiver closure. Ahelical compression spring 21 is contained Within sleeve 20, abutting atone end against the rear end Wall of the sleeve and extending out theother end of the sleeve and Within bore 19 to bear against a radialflange 22a on a spring centering rod 22. Flange 22a bears against theforward end of the bore 19.

It should be noted that in both Figs. 1 and 6 the bolt block 18 is shownin the cocked or retracted position, the block being engaged by a sear23 which, as will later be described in more detail, is operable by thetrigger lever 24. The sear engages a shoulder 25 formed on the undersideof the block, a slot 25a extending from the shoulder to the forward endof the block. In the illustrated condition, the force of the spring 21is resisted by engagement of the sear with the shoulder 25.

Projecting forwardly of the forward end of the bolt block 18 is the bolt26. As shown in the drawing the bolt can be formed integrally with theblock or, alternatively, it may be a separate part threaded into asuitable aperture into the block. The upper surface of the bolt isgrooved as at 27 to accommodate passage of a stationary ejector lug 28upon reciprocation of the bolt block. The groove 27 in the boltcontinues into the block as at 27a. The ejector lug is attached to thetop wall 14 of the receiver and as will be evident from Fig. 6, servesto trip the cartridge casing from the bolt after extraction from thebarrel chamber, as will hereinafter he described. A firing pin 29 isprovided in the forward end of the bolt. Beneath the bolt and adjacentits forward end is an extractor 30 attached at its rear end to the boltblock by an inset screw 31. The extractor has' sufficient resiliency tospring out at its forward end and engage, by means of a barb thereon,the rim of the cartridge casing prior to extraction of the cartridgefrom the chamber.

Supported in the forward portion of the receiver and adjacent thecartridge chamber is a cylindrical transfer disk 32 whose constructionand manner of operation is set forth in detail in my Patent Number2,624,241 referred to earlier herein. Transfer disk 32 is provided inits top surface with a recessed groove or trough adapted to receive asingle cartridge 33. Preferably this groove is of slightly greater depththan the diameter of the cartridge, and is provided along its bottomwith a coterminous supplemental depression 32a, the purpose of whichwill later be explained. Spaced above the top of the transfer disk andsupported in part on the chamber block 13 is a sliding loading gate 34(best seen in Figs. and 6) which can be opened to provide access to thetransfer disk for insertion of a single cartridge. The loading gate 34is generally T-shaped in plan, having a flat stern 34a which slidablyrests on the base of an elongate recess 35 formed on the top of thechamber block 13. Superimposed on the top of the loading gate andserving to confine it in the recess is a top cover piece 36 whichconsists of an extension portion 36a which is substantially equal inwidth to the stern 34a of the loading gate and which overlies the fulllength of the recess 35, and an inverted channel shaped section formingvertically disposed side plates 36b and a top cover portion 36c spanningthe side plates and overlying the transfer disk 32. The side plates 36bare spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the side Walls 16 ofthe receiver, the former having flat lower edges which abut and restupon the upper edges of the latter. The entire top piece 36 is securedto the chamber block 13 by means of machine screws 37 which are receivedthrough the side plates and in tapped holes in the chamber block. Itwill be understood, of course, that the sides of the chamber block areflattened to correspond with the side plates, and that the leading edgesof the side plates can be contoured to merge smoothly with the taperedportion of the block as illustrated.

Providedin the top cover portion 360 is a loading 4 aperture 38 which isof a size to receive therethrough a single cartridge. The aperture 38 isprovided with an ogive curve 38a at one end which serves to insure thatthe cartridges can be inserted only when the bullet portion of thecartridge is at the same end of the aperture as the curve 38a. Theorientation of the aperture is such that the cartridge can be insertedonly when it 1s properly positioned for subsequent operation of thetransfer disk 32 later to be described.

Normally the loading aperture is closed by means of the cross barportion of the T-shaped loading gate 34 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thestem of the loading gate (the gate is preferably formed of spring steelsheet) can be slightly bent so as to create a tight friction fit whichwill maintain the gate in the closed position. Below the gate ispositioned a bafile or cartridge guide 39 which serves to directcartridges downwardly into the slot or groove in the transfer disk 32.The upper edge of the baffle is spaced below the underside of the topcover portion 360 so as to provide a slot through which the loading gatecan move. The baffle is secured at its opposite ends, by soldering orotherwise, to the inside surfaces of the side plates 35b.

Movement of the loading gate through open aperture 38 is accomplished bypressing forwardly toward the barrel on the thumb piece 40 which may bea horizontal cross bar affixed to the upper end of a post or pin 41Whose lower end is firmly secured to the loading gate. The pin isreceived through top cover portion 360 in an elongate slot 42 having alength sufficient to permit the aperture closure portion of the loadinggate to completely clear the aperture 38 when open.

In other than single cartridge loading the cartridges 33 are supplied tothe transfer disk from an elongate tube-like container and magazinegenerally indicated at 43'. The cartridges are preferably containedwithin the interior of the container in side by side relationship.Pressure on the cartridges urging them toward the transfer disk issupplied by a compression spring 44 and a follower 45 having acylindrical extension 45:: received within the spring. The spring is notof the usual rectangular or oblong type which completely fills thecontainer, but is a helical spring circular in cross section. To providea guide for the spring the top center of the magazine is provided with araised longitudinal rib 43a, the upper-portion of the spring beingconfined within the concave underside of the rib. The rib also serves toprevent attachment of the magazine with the gun except in the fashionillustrated in the drawings.

It will be understood that the cartridge container with cartridgestherein is furnished apart from the basic gun structure. Fig. 1 showsthe gun without the cartridge container in place thereon, and Fig. 6illustrates the condition when the container is installed. The containeris supplied to the user with the cartridges preloaded and one end of thecontainer closed by means of a sliding closure plate 43b, bestillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. The other end is, of course, preferablypermanently closed. As will be noted the closure plate is a flat pieceof a plan conforming to the end cross section of the container. Theplate is attached to the container by means of reversely bent flanges43c on its opposite sides which define grooves or guideways whichslidably engage with outturned flanges 43d formed on the ends of theside walls of the container. To remove the end closure for the containerit is necessary only to exert an upward force on the bottom of the endclosure as illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 8, which will slide the endclosure toward the broken line position and free it completely from thecontainer. In my invention the removal of the end closure isaccomplished as the magazine is installed on the gun, as will presentlybe described.

It will be noted from Fig. 7 that at that end of the container 43 onwhich is mounted the'sliding closure 4311, the open spring channelformed by rib 43a is closed by a tab 43s, thus to maintain the springand follower mechanism within the container once all cartridges havebeen dispensed. A downturned fillet 43 is also provided at the mouth ofthe container, this fillet preventing insertion of the cartridges in thecontainer in any position other than one in which they will be deliveredin proper orientation to the cartridge transfer disk 32.

In its installed or connected relationship with the gun body, theforward end of the container 43 is received between two parallel members46 which are extensions of the side plates 36:: of the top cover piece36 previously described. These plates are so spaced that the cartridgecontainer can be inserted between them and moved downwardly from thebroken line position illustrated in Fig. 6. In the broken line position,the rearward end of the container 43 has been preliminarily engagedunder the lip 17b on extension 17a. The rib 43a is received in the gapbetween the discontinuous portions of the rib. As the cartridgecontainer is moved downwardly from the broken line position of Fig. 6,the lower edges of the reversely bent flanges 430 on the cartridgeclosure plate are engaged by the upper edges of the members 46. Aspressure is continued, the flanges 43d on the container move intocorresponding vertical grooves 49 (see Fig. 1) formed in the extensions.Thus, as downward movement of the cartridge container continues, the endclosure 43b is held stationary, and when the container reaches the fulldown position the end closure will be completely disengaged.

As the container reaches the full down position it is locked in thisposition by a latching means which in the preferred embodiment includesa latch member 50 having a beveled upper face. The latch member ispivoted, through an arm 51 and pin 52, to the cover portion 350 of thecover piece near the rearward edge thereof. The rearward edge of thecover piece lies in the path of the container closure 43b so that itassists in displacing the closure from the container duringinstallations as above described. The latching member is continuallyurged into the latching position by a leaf spring 55. It will be evidentthat the latch member is capable of being displaced as the container ismoved into its down position, and when this down position has beenreached, will return again to the illustrated position wherein a portionof the latch 50 overlies and engages the top of the container.

It will be understood that the cartridge container 43 can be constructedof any suitable material. I prefer, however, a light weight plastichaving suflicient rigidity that it will remain locked on the gun onceinstalled. Normal manufacturing tolerances in the formation of grooves49 and lip 17b will permit enough freedom of movement of the containerto accomplish installation as described above.

Returning now to the transfer disk 32 and its associated operatingmechanism, it should be noted that in principle the disk is the same asthat disclosed in my aforesaid Patent Number 2,624,241. The disk issupported for rotation about a vertical axis by means of a dependingstub shaft 56 which is received in a suitable vertical bore in thechamber block 13. The transfer disk is oscillatable between twopositions 90 apart, one position being that illustrated in Figs. 1 and6, where the cartridge groove is transverse to the axis of the barrel,and the other position being one in which the groove is aligned with thecartridge chamber b. Rotation of the disk is limited to 90 by means of astop pin 57 which projects into an arcuate slot 58 (Fig. 2) on the loweredge of the disk, whose length is equivalent to the 90 permissiblerotation of the disk.

Rotation of the disk from the position of Fig. 6 to the position inwhich the cartridge slot is aligned with the chamber is accomplished bymeans of a disk actuator extension 59 which is secured to the bolt block18 and which extends forwardly therefrom adjacent and parallel to oneside wall of the receiver (Figs. 1 and 2). At the free end of the diskactuator extension there is provided an upwardly extending lug 59a whichis arranged to engage within a recess 60 in the lower edge of the disk.As the block moves forward the actuator lug 59a enters this recess andapplies a turning force to the disk which continues until the actuatoris forward of the transverse center plane of the disk. Once past thispoint further rotative movement of the disk is accomplished through theover center mechanism detailed in Fig. 3 and later to be described.Forwardly of the transfer disk, an open path for the actuator isprovided in the form of a longitudinal groove 61 in chamber block 13(Fig. 1).

As is shown in Fig. 3, the over-center mechanism comprises a pin 62extending laterally through the stub shaft 56, the pin being providedwith a yoke 63. Pivotally connected with this yoke is a thrust link 64.The link is located within a recess 65 formed in the bottom of thecenter block. A coiled compression spring 66 encircles the link, tendingat all times to apply a thrust to yoke 63. As the actuator extension lug59a rotates the disk and its stub shaft counter-clockwise as viewed inFig. 3, the yoke link and spring mechanism will move through deadcenter, and after movement through dead center the latter mechanism willcontinue the movement of the disk toward the other extreme. As mentionedpreviously, the degree of rotation of the disk is governed by the stoppin 57 and slot 58. The link 64 is guided by a necked portion 65a ofrecess 65 through which it slidably extends, the free end of the linkbeing located within a small chamber 65b of a size sufficient to permitthe displacement necessary for operation.

While rotation of the transfer disk into firing position has beendescribed, it will be understood that reverse rotation into cartridgereceiving position is accomplished in much the same manner. Here thedisk actuator extension lug 59a is drawn rearwardly past the disk, againengaging in the recess 60 and rotating the disk sufficiently to move theover-center mechanism to the point where it will again insure return ofthe transfer disk to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.

It will, of course, be understood that I have explained only in ageneral way the details of the transfer disk and actuating mechanism.For a more detailed explanation reference may be made to my previousPatent Number 2,624,241.

Manual cocking of the bolt block 18 can be accomplished through rearwardpressure applied to the finger extension 67 on cocking push rod 68. Thispush rod is housed within a tube 69 located to one side of and beneaththe barrel 10. The forward end of the tube is supported on a barrelmounting 70 and the rearward end is carried by a similar mounting 71extending from that portion of the barrel immediately adjacent theforward end of the receiver. The push rod 68 is aligned with the forwardend of the transfer disk actuating extension 59 and moves in the samegroove 61 in the chamber block in which the extension moves. Normally,the push rod is urged into the forward position illustrated by means ofa spring 72 encircling the push rod and within the tube. However, bypulling rearwardly on the finger extension 67 the push rod can bebrought into engagement with the end of the actuating extension 59 andas pressure continues to be applied, the extension together with theattached bolt 18 will be moved rearwardly into the receiver until it isengaged by sear 23. A continuous slot 69a is provided in the undersideof the tube 69 (as shown in Fig. 2), thus permitting the necessarymovement of the finger extension and plunger in the tube.

As has previously been noted, one of the features of my inventionresides in the point of discharge from the gun of unfired cartridges orspent casings. This feature will now be described. Returning again toFig. 6, it will be observed that the hand grip 12 of the gun ispositioned so that its upper end lies below the space opened up betweenthe bolt block 18 and transfer disk 32 as the bolt block is. moved intoits retracted position. The hand grip. is constructed so that it isprovided with a hollow central portion forming a passageway 74 whichcommunicates at its upper end with the. interior of the space in thereceiver previously mentioned. The hand grip may be of the type having arigid metal frame 75 which includes the trigger guard 76. On either sideof the frame contoured hand grip side portions 77 are secured by anysuitable means such as screws 78 (see Fig. 1). The passageway 74communicates with an opening at the butt end of the hand grip, thisopening being of sufiicient size to permit passageway therethrough ofwhole cartridges which may not have been fired or of spent casings.

In order not to impede the free movement of the cartridges from thereceiver to the passageway in the hand grip, I have devised the searactuating mechanism detailed in Figs. 4 and 6. It will be noted that thesear 23 forms the rear portion of a lever 79 contained in a suitablerecess in the hand grip frame. Lever 79 is pivoted to the frame by a pin80 and a coil spring 81 serves to continually urge the sear into theupper or bolt engaging position. Forwardly of the pin 80 the lever isprovided with an offset extension 79a which is curved to lie closelyadjacent one side of the passageway 74. The free end of the extensionmakes lapping contact with another arcuate extension 81a carried. by alever 81 pinned at 82 to the handle frame above the trigger guard. Thislever is likewise contained within a suitable recess in the frame.Connected with the sec ond lever and operable to rotate it about pin 82is the trigger 24.

The operation of the invention will be described in sequence, beginningwith the condition of the gun and gun action as illustrated in Fig. 1.In this condition the bolt block is in the cocked or retracted positionwith the sear engaging the bolt block as previously described.

To begin with, a cartridge container 43 equipped With the end closure43b and preloaded with cartridges 33 is positioned on the top of thereceiver with its rearward end engaged with the lip 17:) on extension17a and with its forward end slightly above the rear edge of coverportion 35c. This is the position illustrated by the broken lines inFig. 6. The forward end of the cartridge container is then moveddownwardly so that the end closure is engaged by the side plates 46 withthe container moving downward therebetween. As movement of the containerdownwardly continues, the end closure plate will be removed, and when inthe full down position the container will be engaged by the latch 50.Removal of the end plate establishes communication from the container tothe transfer disk, and immediately upon installation of the magazine thecartridges will be moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 6. Thegun is now ready for firing.

Upon squeezing of the trigger the levers 81a and 7% cause the sear 23 todepress, disengaging it from the shoulder 25 in the bolt block 18. Underthe influence of the firing spring 21 the bolt block will be movedforwardly. As the forward lug 59a of the disk actuator 59 strikes in thedisk recess 60, the disk will be set in rotary motion, thus bringing thecartridge slot in the disk into alignment with the chamber b prior tothe time that the bolt 26 arrives in the slot. As forward movementcontinues the bolt engages the cartridge, forcing it from the slot intothe chamber. The extractor moves through the supplemental depression32a, and the cartridge behind the one in the disk groove is cammed outof the way of the bolt by the forward lip,32b of the groove. Since theextractor barb leads the firing pin of the bolt, the cartridge will beforced into the chamber by the extractor and there is no danger ofpremature firing. However, once the cartridge is firmly lodged into thechamber, the extractor springs around the rim of the cartridge and thefiing pin contacts the cartridge dettr nator.

Upon firing of the cartridge the explosive force causes the bolt blockto be thrust rearwardly, the empty cartridge case being extracted fromthe barrel due to engagement of the extractor barb with the rim of thecartridge. The bolt and cartridge case slide back through the transferdisk slot and thence rearwardly to a position where the ejector 28engages the top of the cartridge and trips it downwardly. Since theejector 28 is positioned above the passageway 74 in the hand grip 12,the cartridge case is tripped directly thereinto and is directed throughthe passageway to the butt end of the hand grip where it falls free ofthe gun. After the cartridge case has passed the transfer disk in itsrearward travel, the lug 59a on the disk actuator again trips the disk32 through its rotation, placing the disk in its initial position toreceive another cartridge from the magazine.

So long as the trigger is squeezed, the gun will continue to fire inautomatic fashion. Once released, however, the trigger permits the searto again rise to its lo'cking position whereupon during the nextsucceeding retraction the bolt will be engaged and further firingprevented until the trigger is again squeezed.

When the cartridge container has been completely emptied of cartridges,it can be quickly removed and either thrown away or saved for reloading.Another container can be installed on the gun immediately, the sameprocedure as previously described being carried out.

In case single shot action of the gun is desired, access to the transferdisk slot can be obtained through opening of the loading gate 34. Theplate is opened by merely forcing back on the thumb piece 38 to slidethe gate free of the aperture 38 to expose the cartridge slot in thetransfer disk. The cartridge then can be manually introduced through theopening thus created, and after introduction the cover plate can againbe closed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a gun assembly, a gun body having a cartridge inlet and breechmechanism, a tubular combined cartridge container and magazine unit forinstallation on said gun body, a removable end closure at one end ofsaid unit, means on said gun body operable to connect said unit withsaid gun with said one end adjacent said cartridge inlet, and meanscarried by the gun body and operable, upon movement of said unit intoconnected position, to forcibly remove said end closure thereby toestablish communication between the interior of said unit and saidcartridge inlet.

2. A gun assembly as in claim 1 wherein said closure comprises anelement slidably connected with said unit for removal in a directiontransverse to the longitudinal axis of the unit.

3. In a gun assembly, a gun body having a cartridge inlet and breechmechanism, a tubular combined cartridge container and magazine unit forinstallation on said gun body and normally sealed at both ends, means onthe gun body for receiving and connecting said unit thereto with one endof said unit adjacent said cartridge inlet, and means also on the gunbody operable, upon 2,ssa,ess

installment of the unit, to engage and open said one end of the unit toestablish communication between the interior of said unit and saidcartridge inlet.

4. In a gun assembly, a gun body having a cartridge inlet and a breechmechanism, a tubular combined cartridge container and magazine forinstallation on said gun body and normally sealed at both ends, means onthe gun body for receiving and connecting said unit thereto with one endof said unit adjacent said cartridge inlet, a plurality of cartridges insaid unit, resilient means within said unit urging said cartridgestoward said one end, and means also on the gun body operable, uponinstallment of the unit, to engage and open said one end of said unit toestablish communication between the interior of the unit and saidcartridge inlet.

5. In a gun assembly, a gun body equipped with a barrel, a lateralextension on said body, a transverse lip carried by said extension andspaced from the body, a tubular combined cartridge container andmagazine unit capable of being positioned relative said gun body withone end loosely engaged by said lip and the other end spaced away fromsaid body, said lip being constructed and arranged to permit swingingmovement of said other end toward the gun body while still holding saidone end in close association with the body, a removable closure on saidother end of said unit, closure engaging means on the body operable toengage said closure and remove same as said unit is swung toward thebody, said gun body being provided with a cartridge inlet oriented toform a continuation of the interior of said unit when said unit reachesits final position on the body, and manually releasable latching meansoperable to latch said other end to the gun body in the final position.

6. A gun assembly as in claim wherein said removable closure is slidablyconnected with said other end for displacement in a direction normal tothe longitudinal axis of the unit, said closure engaging means providingsurfaces lying in the path of the gun confronting edge of said closurewhereby said surfaces engage and hold said closure stationary while saidunit is being swung toward the body.

7. In a gun assembly, a gun body equipped with a barrel, a lateralextension on said body, a transverse lip carried by said extension andspaced from the body, a tubular combined cartridge container andmagazine unit capable of being positioned relative said gun body withone end of said unit loosely engaged by said lip and the other endspaced away from said body, said lip being constructed and arranged topermit swinging movement of said other end toward the gun body whilestill holding said one end in close association with the body, aremovable closure on said other end of said unit, a plurality ofcartridges in said unit, resilient means within said unit urging saidcartridges toward said closure, closure engaging means on the bodyoperable to engage said closure and remove same as said unit is swungtoward the body, said gun body being provided with a cartridge inletoriented to form a continuation of the interior of said unit when saidunit reaches its final position on the body, and manually releasablelatching means operable to latch the other end to the gun body in thefinal position.

8. In a gun assembly, a gun body having thereon a pair of spacedparallel and laterally extending plate members, means adjacent saidplate members forming a cartridge inlet for the gun, a combinedcartridge container and magazine unit of tubular construction, the Widthof said unit in one direction being only slightly less than the distancebetween said plates, one end of said unit being open and havinglaterally extending flanges on opposite sides thereof, a closure elementfor said one end having guideways at its opposite edges adapted toslidably surround said flanges whereby said closure element isdisconnectable from said unit by impelling it in a direction parallel tosaid flanges, said plate members being provided with flange-receivinggrooves in Which the flanges of said unit are slidably received as saidunit is inserted between said plate members, the outermost edges of saidplate members around said grooves arranged to engage one edge of saidclosure element and hold same stationary while said unit is insertedbetween said plate members thereby to disconnect said closure elementfrom said unit and establish communication between the interior of saidunit and said cartridge inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,275,213 Wise Mar. 3, 1942 2,479,770 Olson Aug. 23, 1949 2,659,173Capito Nov. 17, 1953 2,711,041 Harvey June 21, 1955 2,758,403 Hill Aug.14, 1956 2,773,325 Hill Dec. 11, 1956 2,780,881 Crittendon et al Feb.12, 1957

